Balanced pump casing



Dec. 19, 1922. 1,439,386

4H. E. wARMAN, BALANCED PUMP CASING. FILED oc'r. 4. i921 [120611 for:

Patented Dec. 19), 1922.

earn

HAROLD E. WARIVIAN, F MANISTEE, MICHIGAN.

BALANCED PUMP cAsrNG.

Application led October 4, 1921. Serial No. 505,305.

, l IZ 1o all whom t may concern:

B it known that l, HAROLD E. WARMAN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing in Manis'tee, in the county of Manistee, State of Michigan, United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Balanced Pump Casings, of which the following is a speciication. i

My invention relates to pumps of what are, known as the multiple-stage impeller type, wherein the fluid operated upon by the pump passes, first into a. rotary impeller, usually of the central annular intake centrifugal peripheral outlet form shown, mounted upon the driveshaft; and is deliv- -ered thence into the first stage pressurechamber, communicating with the central annular inlet of a second similar impeller; and is by it delivered into a second stage like chamber; the pressure generated in such second stage chamber being twice that ofthe pressure in the rst chamber; and so on through a plurality of similar impellers of any desired plural number into alike number of stage pressure-chambers, increasing in ,a like number of pounds per each stage; such impellers usually, but not necessarily, being mounted on the same shaft, and rotating at the same speed, whereby the pressure is increased as the liquid is passed through each succeeding impeller to the amount of the pressure generated in the first pressure chamber by the first impeller, in each succeeding stage. For instance, in a pump of the four-impeller type shown, if the initial pressure in the rst stage pressure-chamber is, say 125 pounds per` square inch, the pressure in the second chamber would be 250 pounds, `i1 thev third chamber 375 pounds, and in the out-let and final delivery out-let pipe, being the last stage pressurechamber, 500 pounds, while the outlet of an eight stage pump of the same type would have an interior pressure of 1000. pounds per square inch.

n the pumps of this type and character,l

working at such high pressures as 500 pounds per square inch or even higher, frequently the pressure is so great as to burst the pump casing, unless the same is made of excessive` thickness and consequentlgreat weight, which in many cases' for many reaq sons is extremely undesirable.'

The main object of my inventlon 1s to provide a pump of exceedingly simple and cheap form of construction, wherein a balance pressure-chamber, or plurality of such superposed chambers, isy provided between an outer peripheral wall and an inner like wall; all of which annular concentric chamber, or chambers are each in free communication with one of the minor pressurechambers, (usually that of the half pressurestage, in this case that of 250 pounds per square inch as shown in Fig. 1) into which balance-pressure chamber or chambers a portion of the liquid impelled in the early stages of its passage through the pump,

venters to fill the same; whereby the pressure exerted outward upon the inner face of the outer Wall will in this case be only about one half of what the succeeding last stage and outlet will have. And thus it will be seen that with an extremely light weight of metal, a pump is provided that will be of long life, and having but little danger of bursting the pump-chamber walls by rea'.- son of excessive pressure. A

My said invention is fully shown, described and claimed in the following specication, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view in elevation, taken in central vertical longitudinal section of my said improved form of multiple-stage impeller pump, taken on the line 1 1 of Figs. 2 and 4 looking toward the left in the direction of the arrow in such Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is an exterior yend view of such pump looking toward the right of such Fig. 1, also in the direction of the arrow therein.

Fig. 3 is an end view thereof taken in cross-section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, looking to the left in the direction of the arrow; and

Fig. 4 is a like view of the same, looking in the same direction, taken in section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing My said improved balance pressure-chamber impeller-pump shown in its simplest form inFig. 1, has the' casing or housing i A thereof, for purposes of assembling, etc., usuallyand preferably divided into an upper and a lower part, being split horizontally along the central longitudinal line as indicated in Figs. l and 3, and comprises the erably of the well known form shown in Figs. 1, and 4, each comprising a hub-portion 16, formed integral with four axially staggered centrifugal fan-blades 11, also integral with the curved rear peripheral wall 161, the curved rear hub-portion, and the straight axial front wall 17, whereby when rigidly secured upon the drive shaft B,l

usually by means of a spline-key 23 (Fig. 4), when such shaft B is rotated (preferably anti-clock-wise toward the left as indicated in Fig. 4, when the fan-blades are staggered as shown) an intensive suction will be created in the inlet, and the pressure increased by each successive impeller the fluid or liquid passes through.

Formed integral with the inner peripheral wall 13, and of the substantial shape shown, and situated on the outlet side of the four-impellers shown are the guide members 71, 72, 73 and 74, having the fins 12 to direct the water thrown centrifugally outward by the fan-blades of the impellers into the stage pressure-chambers 81, 82, 83, and the outlet forming the last pressure chamber 84;

and the contour and curvatures of the wallsV of 71, as well as 61, are such that the tortuous centrifugal path taken by the fluid is made easy for the flowing stream, and the friction reducedto a minimum, and for this reason the chambers 61, 62, 63 and 64 are usually provided.

As above stated the double walled casing shown is split longitudinally and centrally into two parts, and is provided with the outwardly extending securing flanges end balance pressure-chambers 10, so as to entirely fill the same.

The casing A is usually of4 cast metal, iron or bronze, as are the other parts, while the main or drive shaft B is usually of rolled steel, and usually and preferably the ournal-joints at the ends of the pump-shaft B, are made tight by means of'a gland-packing 24 The abutting faces of the inner and outer longitudinal securing flanges 20, are planed or ground to make a practically water tight joint; and may be provided with an interposed packing or smeared with red-lead or other suitable substance, to render the'joint tight before being placed in position.` The lower portion of the casing is usually provided with suitable feet 25 of any desired plural number, for supporting the same in position upon a suitable supporting floor.

It.. will be seen that by this arrangement, that -if for instance the pressure generated by the first impeller in the first stage pressure-chamber 81 is, say 125 pounds per square inch, that of the pressure generated in the second stage-pressure chamber 82 will be twice thatl or 250 pounds; that the pressure'in the third stage pressure-chamber 83 will be 375 pounds; while the pressure at theL fourth stage pressuiechamber outlet will be 500 pounds; but that there being in the balance pressure-chamber 10, between the inner wall 13 and the outer wall 14, and also the outer end walls 25 and 26, the 250 pounds pressure of the water entering into such chamber or chambers 10, etc., through the slot 9, will cause an exterior pressure lupon the inner wall 13 of 25() pounds, thus balancing the interior pressure to a large extent of 125 pounds in 81 and the 250 pounds in 82andalso will provide an exf terior pressure of :250 `poundson that portion of the innerwall surrounding the third stage chamber 8.3, which will have an interior pressure.ofil375pounds per square inch, and

following. the Well' known rule that closed cylindrical casings will withstand a much greater exterior pressure than Athey will interior pressure, by my invention herein first disclosed,"a pump can be made, of comparatively light weight that at the final stages can carry safely, enormous fluid pressures and still be of a minimum weight, a desideratum long sought but never prior to my invention realized.

In some cases and especially in pumps of this type having a large plural number of impellers by which great pressures are at last attained, in the final stages, additional balance pressure-chambers ofV substantially similar type may be provided exterior or adjacent to the balance pressure-chamber 10y shown, to any desired number as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, thus forming a balance pressure chamber 10', exterior to the two last stage chambers 83 and 84, which chamber 10 is formed of what in full line is the right hand end' portion of the chamber l0, which, in this case is shown as being connected by the channel or pluralitynof channels indicated at the top and bottom of Fig. l, by the dotted lines 28, and 29, such channel or channels being of any desired number and being centrally located in a strong web castintegrally with the entire casing or housing structure A,or by another slightly different modification that portion of the chamber lying to the right of -the peripheral slot` 9 of the inner wall 13 may be closed by a circular wall piece 30, lindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and connected with the pressure chamber 83, or even with the outlet 84;.and it will be seen that by this latter arrangement,the difference between the outside and inside pressure of any stage chamber from first to last will ever be greater than the pressure of the first stage in this case being 125 pounds per square inch, for 82 will be balanced in and out, 83 will be in the same condition, and the outlet at 500 poundswill .be balanced by the 375 pounds pressure in the balance pressure 10, whereby only the wall 14 will have to be made of heavy metal.

It is very evident from an examination of the drawing and description that many modifications. and changes in the arrangement of the various elements making up and composing my new and improved form of stage pressure-.pumps may be made without in any manner departing from the'broad scope of my invention herein first disclosed, described and claimed; and I do not intend to limit myself strictly to the exact form of impeller, nor to the arrangement thereof, herein shown and described; as I consider that as set forth vin the broad claims hereof I am entitled to protection of the broad principle of any number of balance pressure-chambers howsoever made or arranged, equalizing the interior and exterior pressures, in all stage-pressure-pumps of every kind and character.

I cla-im:

1. In a device of the class described, a balance pressure-chamber, exterior to the fluid impelling mechanism, in free communication with the flowing fluid at a point where its pressure is less than it is at the outlet.

2. In a device of the class described, a

r 'balance pressure-chamber exterior to and entirely surrpunding the fluid impelling mechanism, in free communication with the flowing fluid at a point where its pressure is less than it is at the outlet.

3. In a device of the class described, a balance pressure-chamber exterior to and entirely surrounding the fluid impellingI mechanism in free communication with the flowing fluid, by a substantially annular slot at a point where the fluid-pressure is less than it is at the outlet.

mechanism in a free communication with .the flowing fluid chamber by way of a substantiallyannular-slot, at a point where the fluid-pressure is substantially one-half of what it is at lthe outlet.

6. In a device of the class described, a. plurality of fluid.impellermembers iny stage, each of whichrincreases the pressure as it ejects the fluid; an imperforateouter casing-wall; and an inner perforate casing-wall surrounded by the outer casing wall; whereby ,a balance pressure-chamber is formed between the inner and outer casing wall; and maintained under the fluid pressure of one of the lower pressure stage-chambers.

7; In a device of the class described, a balance pressure-chamber exterior to and entirely surrounding the fluid impelling mechanism; which mechanism comprises a plurality of centrifugal rotating impellers, in stage, each impeller after the first receiving at its central inlet, the fluid under the increased pressure given to it by the immediately preceding impeller, and increasing the pressure with practically the same amount as has its feeding impeller; and a passage in free communication with the flowing fluid at a point where its pressure is substantially one-half of what it. is at the outlet, and in free communication at the other end with the balance `pressurechamber, or chambers.

8. In a device of the class described, a plurality of'impeller members in stage, each of which increase the pressure as it ejects the fluid; the first impeller-member receiving the fluid from the inletofthe device delivering the same to its pressure-chamber at an increased pressure; and each succeeding impeller adding to the pressure at which it receives the fluid the equivalent of the pressure given to the fluid by the impeller first to receive it from the inlet; an imperforate outer casing-wall; and an inner perforate casing-wall surrounded by the outer casingwall, whereby a balance pressure-chamber is, or a plu/rality of chambers are,` formed between the. inner and outer, casing-walls whereby the pressure in such exterior annular balance pressure-chamber, or chambers, will be constantly maintained at a substantial portion of the pressure of the flowing stream at the outlet.

9. A device of the class described, comprising a double walled casing of sustantially cylindrical form in cross section, longitudinally centrally divided into two parts, each having outwardly extending securing flanges formed integral with both the 'inner' and outer walls; the inner wall being broken away as well as the flange up to the inner surface of the outer wall on both sides; and theinner wall being annularly lslotted circumferentially vat or adjacent to the center, whereby free communication is made between the central water pressure chambers through which the water flows, and the two semi-circular balance pressure chambers formed between the outerwall and the linner centrally peripherally slotted wall at either end ofysuch annular slot in the inner wall; whereby a pressure substantially equivalent to one-half of the pressure at the moment in the outlet,

will be maintained in such balance-pressurechamber or chambers at all times.

10. A device of the class described, comprising a plurality of fluid impeller members in stage, each of which increases the' pressure as it ejects the fluid; all of which are enclosed in a double walled casing of substantially cylindrical 'form in cross section, longitudinally centrally divided into two parts, each having outwardly extendsure chamber through which the water Hows, and the `two semi-circular balance pressure chambers formed between the outer wall and the centrally peripherally slotted inner wall at. either end ofsuch annular slot, so that a pressure substantially equivalent to one-half of the pressure at the moment in the outlet will be maintained in such balance pressure chamber, or chambers, at all times. y

11. A device of the class described, having a plurality of staged pressure-chambers, and also comprising a plurality of balance pressure-chambers, each exterior to one, or a sub-plurality of the staged pressure-chambers, each of which balance pressure-chambers is in free communication with one of the staged pressure-chambers, whereby the outward pressure of the Huid in the stage pressure chamber interior to each balancepres sure-chamber is balanced by the inward pressure ofthe fluid in the balance pressurechamber.

HAROLD E. WARMAN.

Vitnesses:

` CHAs. S. WILLIAMS,

ACHILLES RovEGNo. 

